UPDATE  FRIDAY:

Gunnedah Speedway promoter Barry Towers has advised this weekend’s event will not proceed due to rain.

““Gunnedah Speedway stayed optimistic as long as we could,” Mr Towers said.

“Thank you to my on-site team, but even your best effort could not win this one.

“We thank all our race teams and support for hanging in with us to the last minute.

“To anyone that pre purchased tickets through 123tix a refund will happen within the next three working days.

“We are hoping to re-run the race a little later but will liaise with the divisions to see if we can make it work.”

EARLIER:

A sprint car championship is on the line at Gunnedah Speedway this Saturday for the final round of the Southern Star Truck Centre Regional Rumble.

Event promoters said it will be the first time in recent memory the Gunnedah venue has hosted this calibre of sprint car championship.

Sydney-based driver Warren Ferguson holds a slim 38-point lead over Zac Pacchiarotta in championship, with Lachlan Caunt sitting in third.

Such is the level of competition, just 100 points separates the top nine drivers in the series.

Gunnedah Speedway promoter Barry Towers, who is retiring after two decades on the speedway scene, described the top-level sprint cars as the ‘Taylor Swift’ of the speedway world.

“They are top of their game – top of the food chain,” he said.

Such is their power – all 900 horse power – Towers would expect to see much of the field “wheel-standing” on the back straight at Gunnedah Speedway.

Towers said the sprint car event has been a long time coming for the Gunnedah track.

“I’ve been chasing them for a while,” he said. “It has been a lot of hard work but it’ll be worth it.”

Also racing this weekend is the NSW Fender Bender Title which will feature several drivers from Gunnedah.

The local line-up from Gunnedah Speedway Club includes Robert Sheumack, Patrick and Daniel Cronin, Brad Perrett, Adam Schalk, Brock Wiggins, Matt Cobb, Simon Hood and Grant Jackson.

With Towers set to step aside from speedway to spend more time travelling, he said this could be the last opportunity for 12 months for the local community to see racing at the Gunnedah venue which is up for sale.

The long-time speedway promoter who has also been a regular part of the Super Sedan race category – winning the state title several times – will look back on his time at Gunnedah with great memories.

“I’ve made so many friends in Gunnedah, [the town] has some great people,” he said.

Other divisions racing on the day include Outlaw Sedans, Street Stockers, 4 Cylinder Sedans and Junior Sedans.

Racing starts 3pm on Saturday at the Bluevale Road speedway – weather permitting.

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